As the school year rapidly draws to a close, awards banquets and ceremonies are starting to dish out the hardware.

Our Lake County young thespians are no different, thanks to the generous folks at the Painesville and Mentor Rotary clubs.

For the 43rd year, the Mentor-Painesville Rotary Drama Awards honored what, in their view, was the best of the best in area high school theater. The program, the brainchild of Painesville Rotarian Robert Tischer, came about because he believed that students who participate in school theater productions should receive recognition similar to that bestowed upon students who participated in athletics.

“Students of drama are no less talented and give much of themselves and their time,” according to their program description. “The dedication and efforts of these students are worthy of a night of recognition.”

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In addition to recognizing the schools and multiple actors, the Robert E. Tischer Scholarship was awarded to Becca Kuch of Mentor and Malik Montgomery from Fairport from donations from the Tischer family and the Mentor/Painesville Rotary Clubs. The Fischer family was there to present.

This year, the awards ceremony was held at Perry High School on May 8. Below you will see the participating schools with the winners designated by an asterisk. Congratulations to all of our area young thespians for another great year of high school theater.

Best Musical (tie)

*Fairport Harding High School’s production of “The Addams Family,” directed by Johnathan Luster

Harvey High School’s production of “Shrek the Musical,” directed by Kimberly Hildack & Carley Hosler

Lake Catholic High School’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors,” directed by R. Scott Posey

*Mentor High School’s production of “The Music Man,” directed by John Greene

Perry High School’s production of “Beauty and The Beast,” directed by Allen Kellogg & Elizabeth Singer

Riverside High School’s production of “High School Musical,” directed by Laura Poje

Best Drama/Comedy

Fairport Harding High School’s production of “Steel Magnolias,” directed by Johnathan Luster

Harvey High School’s production of “Three Japanese Ghost Stories,” directed by Carley Hosler

* Lake Catholic High School’s production of “Panic Broadcast of 1938,” directed by R. Scott Posey

Mentor High School’s production of “Inherit the Wind,” directed by John Greene

Perry High School’s production of “The Seussification of Romeo & Juliet,” directed by Jennifer Hunter

Riverside High School’s production of “Peter and The Star Catcher,” directed by Brad Allen

Female Support in a Musical

Lake Catholic: Megan Szaraz as Crystal and Meghan Bretz as Chiffon and Eva Anderson as Ronette

Mentor: Annie Ryan as Mrs. Paroo

Perry: Makenna Berdysz as Lefou

Riverside: Maddie Miller as Sharpay Evans

Male Lead in a Musical

Fairport: Kyle Mikitin as Gomez Adams

Harvey: Billy Kalina as Shrek

Lake Catholic: Thomas Horen as Seymour

* Mentor: Connor Rosciszewski as Harold Hill

Perry: Jaren Hodgson as Beast

Riverside: Andy Kochevar as Troy Bolton

Female Lead in a Musical

Fairport: Gabby Palmer as Morticia Addams

Harvey: Ricora Echols as Princess Fiona

Lake Catholic: Anna Skalicki as Audrey

* Mentor: Becca Kuch as Marian Paroo

Perry: Angela Vicini as Belle

Riverside: Pearl Carey as Gabriella Montez

The Cameo Award

* Sarah Edward as Deputy Eller in Lake Catholic’s production of “The Panic Broadcast of 1938”

Young Thespians is a regular column that focuses on youth in theater. Do you have a production you wish to see featured? E-mail stevecouch@windstream.net, follow me @StevenRCouch on Twitter or join our “Young Thespians” Facebook group and post your show information.